Apple tree, &#39;CN B110&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of apple tree is described and which is characterized as to novelty by producing an attractively colored apple which is mature for harvesting and shipment approximately October 12 under the ecological conditions prevailing in central, Washington state.

LATIN NAME

Malus domestica

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘CN B110’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apple tree, hereinafter designated as ‘CN B110’, and more specifically, to a new apple tree which produces fruit which are mature for harvesting and shipment under the ecological conditions prevailing in Grant County, Washington at or about October 12^(th).

ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

The inventor removed seeds from open pollinated “Honeycrisp’ apple trees (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,197) which were then growing in his commercial orchard which is located near 29716 Read Ave., Worthington, Minn. during the 1993 growing season. The aforementioned orchard is located in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The collected seeds were then planted in 1994 and successful seedlings were grown and then maintained on their own roots until the 2004 harvesting season. At that time, the promising new variety ‘CN B110’ was identified and named. After identification of the promising seedling, second generation trees were made by removing budwood and budding the new variety onto EMLA 9 rootstock (unpatented) and then planting the newly produced trees in a commercial nursery which is located in Ephrata, Grant County, Wash. in 2005. The new, second generation trees have been continually observed, and in 2011 produced fruit which could be observed. At this time, it was found that the new, second generation trees appeared to produce fruit which were substantially identical to that observed and produced by the original chance seedlings which were previously grown in Minnesota.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY

The new variety ‘CN B110’ is a late-mid season ripening apple tree which is mature for harvesting and shipment some 11 days after the date of harvesting of the fruit produced by the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree (U.S. Plant Pat. 7,197) when it is grown under the same ecological conditions. In particular, the new variety of apple tree produces fruit having a shape which is much flatter than it is round. Still further, the fruit of the new variety has an excellent taste with the fruit having a very firm crisp texture, and exceptionally juicy characteristics. Still further, the fruit has a mildly subacid-like taste and is considered much better in relative comparison to the fruit produced by the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree (U.S. Plant Pat. 7,197) when grown under similar ecological conditions. Still further, the present variety of apple tree has demonstrated that it has a greater storage life than the fruit produced by the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree (U.S. Plant Pat. 7,197) and further retains its crispness following prolonged storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the original dormant mother tree of the variety ‘CN B110’ growing in the orchard of origin.

FIG. 2 illustrates the typical bloom as seen on second generation trees currently growing in Grant County, Washington.

FIG. 3 illustrates a typical fruiting spur produced by a second generation tree growing in Grant County, Washington.

FIG. 4 shows the fruiting characteristics of a second generation ‘CN B110’ apple tree growing in Grant County, Washington.

FIG. 5 shows a picture which compares the fruit produced by the new variety ‘CN B110’ relative to that produced by the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree when grown under similar ecological conditions.

The colors in the enclosed photographs are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in color photographs of this type. However, due to chemical development, processing and printing, the leaves and fruit depicted in these photographs may or may not be accurate when compared to the actual botanical specimens. For this reason, future color references should be made to the color plates (Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain) and other common color descriptions as provided hereinafter.

NOT A COMMERCIAL WARRANTY

The following detailed description has been prepared to solely comply with the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, and does not constitute a commercial warranty, (either expressed or implied), that the present variety will in the future display all the botanical, pomological or other characteristics as set forth, hereinafter. Therefore, this disclosure may not be relied upon to support any future legal claims including, but not limited to, breach of warranty of merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose, or non-infringement which is directed, in whole, or in part, to the present variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

-   Tree:     -   -   Size.—Generally — The tree as described hereinafter is a             three year old, second generation tree which is currently             growing in Grant County, Washington. All major color code             references are from the R.H.S. Colour Chart (4^(th) Edition)             and which is provided by The Royal Horticulture Society of             Great Britain.         -   Type.—The present variety is trained, and grows on a central             leader type system. Generally speaking, the present variety             displays heavy spur development, and is considered             precocious.         -   Vigor.—Considered moderate relative to other species.         -   Overall shape.—Considered upright, and spreading.         -   Tree height.—About 8 feet.         -   Crown diameter.—About 6.5 feet.         -   Hardiness.—Considered hardy for the current region it is             being grown in, that being (USDA zone 6a).         -   Fruit productivity.—Considered highly productive. -   Trunk:     -   -   Size.—About 2.5 cm. in diameter when measured at a height of             about 20 cm. above the graft union.         -   Bark texture.—Considered rough, and sand-paper like.         -   Bark color.—Grey-orange (RHS Group 166A).         -   Lenticels.—Numbers — Present and numerous in number. The             lenticels average about 14 per 4 sq. cm. area. The lenticel             shape is elongated, and oriented substantially horizontally.         -   Lenticel.—Width — About 1 mm.         -   Lenticel.—Length — About 2.7 mm.         -   Lenticel color.—White (RHS N155D). -   Branches: -   First year branches:     -   -   Diameter.—About 4.6 to 5.2 mm. in diameter.         -   Length.—Current season growth is from about 5.5 cm. to about             43.2 cm.         -   Bark color.—Grey-orange (RHS 177A).         -   Lenticels.—Generally speaking they are numerous and average             about 15 per running cm. of length. The lenticels are             elongated in shape, although occasionally a few round ones             may be found. The lenticels are oriented vertically. The             lenticel length ranges from about 0.7 to 1.1 mm. Still             further, the lenticel diameter ranges from about 0.3 to             about 0.5 mm.         -   Lenticel color.—White (RHS N155D).         -   Internode length.—The distance between nodes ranges from             about 2.8 to 3.6 cm.         -   Branch pubescence.—Present but considered light to moderate,             and white in color. This color is not distinctive of the             present variety. -   Two year old fruiting branches:     -   -   Diameter.—About 8.2 mm. to about 15.3 mm.         -   Spur development.—Considered moderate.         -   Bud length.—About 9 mm. to about 11.5 mm.         -   Bud diameter.—About 4.1 mm. to about 5.1 mm.         -   Bud color.—Grey-purple (RHS 187A).         -   Lenticels.—Generally speaking lenticels are present, and             average about 3 per sq. cm. The lenticels are oval in shape             and have an average size of about 1.1 mm. by about 1.5 mm.             The lenticel color is white (RHS 155C).         -   Bark color.—Grey-brown (RHS 199A). -   Scaffold branches:     -   -   Size.—About 10.4 mm. to about 13.3 mm. in diameter.         -   Crotch angle.—As presently trained on a central leader             system, the crotch angles range from 60 to about 70 degrees             when measured from a vertical plane.         -   Color.—Grey-brown (RHS 199A).         -   Lenticels.—Generally speaking, the lenticels are moderate in             number and average about 8 per sq. cm.         -   Lenticels.—Shape — Variable and being generally             characterized as elongated and thin. The lenticels range in             length from about 1 mm. to about 1.7 mm., and have a width             of about 0.1 to about 0.3 mm.         -   Lenticels.—Orientation — Considered horizontal. -   Leaves:     -   -   Shape.—Generally — Considered broadly acute and having some             upward lifting of the leaf surface.         -   Texture.—Upper surface — Considered leathery and undulating.         -   Texture.—Lower surface — Considered glabrous.         -   Sheen.—The upper or dorsal surface has a high sheen.         -   Pubescence.—The leaves of the present variety display some             light pubescence on the upper and lower surfaces. The lower             surface is nearly completely covered and is moderate in             density.         -   Leaf pubescence.—Color — Grey-yellow (RHS 160A).         -   Leaf length.—About 81.1 mm. to about 106.9 mm.         -   Leaf width.—About 43.2 mm. to about 69 mm.         -   Leaf marginal edge.—Considered mostly serrate and             occasionally bi-serrate regions are found.         -   Leaf tip.—Shape — Acuminate.         -   Leaf base.—Shape — Rounded.         -   Stipules.—Generally — Present and normally two stipules are             found per leaf.         -   Stipule.—Length — About 7.7 mm to about 14.4 mm.         -   Stipule.—Width — About 2 mm to about 3.2 mm.         -   Stipule.—Color — The dorsal surface has a yellow-green color             (RHS 144B). The ventral surface is yellow-green (RHS 147B).         -   Stipule.—Pubescence — This is present on the ventral             surface, and is considered fine, and covers nearly the             entire surface. The color of this pubescence is grey-yellow             (RHS 160A).         -   Leaf blade color.—Dorsal surface — Yellow-green (RHS 147A);             Ventral surface — Yellow-green (RHS 147B).         -   Leaf mid-vein.—Shape — Considered prominent, and having a             fine pubescence which is located under the vein.         -   Mid-Vein.—Diameter — At mid-blade it is about 1.1 to about             1.6 mm.         -   Mid-Vein.—Upper surface color — Yellow-green (RHS 145D).         -   Mid-vein pubescence.—The pubescence covers nearly 100             percent of the lower surface and has a color of grey-yellow             (RHS 160A).         -   Petiole.—Length — About 25.4 mm. to about 32.5 mm. per inch.         -   Petiole.—Shape — A shallow groove extends the entire length             of the upper surface of the petiole.         -   Petiole.—Diameter — At the mid point of the petiole, this is             about 1.5 mm. to about 2.3 mm.         -   Petiole color.—Upper surface — Yellow-green (RHS 144B).         -   Petiole color.—Lower surface — Yellow-green (RHS 145C).             Occasionally, a light highlight is found at the basal end of             the petiole, and has a color of grey-red (RHS 180A).         -   Petiole pubescence.—Considered moderate in density over the             entire length and circumference of the petiole.         -   Petiole pubescence color.—Grey-yellow (RHS 160A). -   Flower:     -   -   Full bloom.—Full bloom was achieved on May 9, 2011.         -   Number of blossoms per bud.—This ranges from 3 to 5, mostly             4.         -   Flower size.—Considered average for the species. When fully             expanded the diameter of the flowers ranged from 41 to 48             mm.         -   Petal width.—About 13 to 18 mm. Petal Length — About 17 to             23 mm.         -   Petal color.—White (RHS N155B). The dorsal surface has color             highlights from the Grey-Purple group (RHS 186D), and the             basal vein color is Grey-Purple (RHS 186C).         -   Stamens.—Number — From 19 to 21.         -   Filament length.—About 4.1 to about 11.4 mm. Filament color             is Yellow (RHS 4C).         -   Anthers.—Shape — Kidney like, and having a width of about             2.1 mm., and a length of about 2.6 mm.         -   Anthers.—Color — At full maturity it is Yellow (RHS 5D).         -   Pistil.—Length — about 14 to 14.9 mm.         -   Styles.—Numbers — 5. Generally speaking, the styles are             fused at about half the distance from base, and are white,             pubescent at the union at the base.         -   Style color.—Yellow-Green (RHS 145B).         -   Stigma.—Round and club shaped. Stigma diameter is about 0.8             to 0.9 mm. The stigma color is Yellow-Green (RHS N144B).         -   Sepals.—Numbers — 5 per blossom are typically found.         -   Sepals.—Shape — considered deltoid, and the tip shape is             acuminate and the base is truncate in form.         -   Sepals.—Length — About 8.1 mm. Sepals Width — about 3.9 mm.         -   Sepals pubescence.—Abundant White pubescence is found on             both the upper and the lower surfaces. The sepal color is             Yellow-Green (RHS 144A). Sepal tips are highlighted with a             Grey-Orange color (RHS 166A).         -   Peduncle.—Length — about 27 to 35 mm.         -   Peduncle.—Color — Yellow-Green (RHS 144A). -   Fruit: Generally speaking, the foregoing observations of the fruit     were taken from second generation trees (3 year old) growing under     the ecological conditions prevailing in Ephrata, Grant County, Wash.     in 2011.     -   -   Fruit form.—Considered flat and round, and occasionally             lopsided, and somewhat irregular.         -   Size.—Considered average for the species with normal crop             loading.         -   Average equatorial diameter.—About 77.3 to 83.9 mm.         -   Average axial diameter.—About 62.8 to 71.5 mm.         -   Stem.—Length — Considered long, and medium slender for the             variety. Typically a small fleshy growth appears about             20-50% of the distance from the stem bowl base. Stem length             is about 20.9 to 32.5 mm. Stem Diameter is about 1.9 to 2.5             mm.         -   Stem cavity.—Shape — The stem cavity does not appear lipped             and is fully russeted. The russeting spills onto the             shoulders of the fruit.         -   Stem cavity.—Width — About 31.5 to 34.7 mm.         -   Stem cavity.—Depth — About 15.7 to 19.3         -   Cavity shape.—Acuminate.         -   Basin cavity.—Shape — Considered wide and having indistinct             to light crowning and ribbing.         -   Basin cavity.—Width — About 27.3 to 35.3 mm.         -   Basin cavity.—Depth — Ranges from 7.2 to 16.3 mm.         -   Eye.—Erect and having nearly convergent tips.         -   Sepal color.—Green (RHS 138B).         -   Sepal texture.—Considered downy, and having a White color             (RHS 155C).         -   Skin.—Surface Texture — Smooth, and occasionally having a             small amount of light russeting which develops around the             existing lenticels.         -   Bloom.—Amount — Considered moderate for the species.         -   Skin texture.—Considered tender.         -   Skin thickness.—Considered thin for the species.         -   Skin appearance.—Appearing blotched and marbled.         -   Skin color.—Generally — A red over stripe color is present,             and is characterized as (RHS 46B); a red over color is also             present (RHS 47A); a yellow-green under color is also             evident (RHS 154D).         -   Lenticels.—Present, but they are considered rather             inconspicuous. The lenticels are round, and smooth and             generally regularly distributed.         -   Lenticels.—Numbers — About 10 per square cm.         -   Lenticel color.—Orange-White (RHS 159D).         -   Lenticel size.—About 0.3 to 0.6 mm. in diameter.         -   Fruit core.—Position — Considered distant.         -   Fruit core line position.—Basal clasping.         -   Core diameter.—About 37.0 mm.         -   Core length.—About 25 mm.         -   Core shape.—Considered flat and conical.         -   Fruit cell.—Numbers — 5.         -   Fruit cell shape.—Obovate.         -   Fruit cell length.—About 13.8 mm.         -   Fruit cell width.—About 9.2 mm.         -   Fruit cell.—Depth — About 4.4 mm.         -   Tube.—Shape — Cone shaped.         -   Stamen position.—Generally — Considered basal.         -   Fruit axis.—Form — Axile and open.         -   Fruit seeds.—Number — Typically 2.         -   Seed shape.—Acute. Seed Length — about 8.3 to 9.3 mm, Seed             Width about 4.8 to 5.7 mm.         -   Seed color.—Brown (RHS 200B).         -   Flesh.—Firmness and Flavor — The variety Is considered to             produce fruit flesh which is firm, crisp, and melting, and             mildly sub-acidic, and further having a very juicy and mild             apple flavor.         -   Flesh color.—Yellow (RHS 2D).         -   Aroma.—Having a very mild apple aroma.         -   Date of harvesting.—About Oct. 12, in 2011 under the             ecological conditions then prevailing in Grant County,             Washington state.         -   Fruit pressure.—Generally — The present variety, upon             harvesting, had a fruit pressure of about 19 pounds as             compared to the fruit produced by the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple             trees (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,197), and which were grown             under similar ecological conditions, and which had a fruit             pressure of about 14.5 pounds. When measured on Jan. 23,             2012 the fruit pressure of the new variety measured 18             pounds, while the fruit of the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree had a             fruit pressure of 13.5 pounds.         -   Brix.—Upon harvesting the fruit of the present variety had a             brix of about 13.9 as compared to the fruit of the closest             known variety ‘Honeycrisp’, and which had a brix of 11.1             When measured on Jan. 23, 2012 the fruit of the new variety             had a brix of 14.2 as compared to the brix of the fruit of             the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree which was measured as 12.2.         -   pH.—Upon harvest the fruit of the new variety had a pH of             about 3.49, as compared to the pH of the fruit produced by             the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree, and which was measured as 3.3.             When the pH was again measured on Jan. 23, 2012 the pH of             the new variety was measured as 3.6, whereas the measured pH             of the fruit of the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree was 3.55.         -   Titratable acid.—Upon harvest the fruit of the new variety             had a titratable acid concentration of 0.62 grams per 100             ml.; whereas the the fruit of the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree             had a titratable acid concentration of about 0.52 grams per             100 ml. On Jan. 23, 2012 the new variety had a calculated             titratable acid concentration of 0.50 grams per 100 ml., as             compared to the fruit of the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree which             had a calculated titratable acid concentration of about 0.45             grams per 100 ml.         -   Keeping quality.—Considered excellent for the species. The             present variety has been kept up to four months in common             storage with no deleterious effects noted. The flesh of the             present variety browns very little after being exposed to             the atmosphere. The present variety will develop a bitter             pit, similar to the fruit produced by the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple             tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,197), after the varieties fruit             has been stored for four months or longer under typical             storage conditions.         -   Pollination.—The present variety may be pollinated by any             diploid apple tree that blooms in approximately the same             season.         -   Fruit use.—Considered a fresh dessert apple.         -   Resistance to disease and insects.—The present variety is             considered to be susceptible to all insects and diseases             found in the region of Central Washington state.

Although the new variety of apple tree possesses the characteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing in Grant County, Washington, it is to be understood that variations of the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning and pest control is to be expected. 

Having thus described and illustrated my new variety of apple tree, what I claim is new, and desire to secure by plant Letters Patent is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree as substantially illustrated and described, and which is characterized principally as to novelty by producing an attractively colored apple which is mature for harvesting and shipment on approximately October 12 under the ecological conditions prevailing in Grant County, Washington. 